A/N: Five of you guys guessed the real identity of the Inteligente correctly--the Entelexeia from Tales of Vesperia. So you guys who got it, go ahead and mail me what kind of oneshot you want from which Tales game and such, okay?

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Part XI: We Meet Again

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"What's the matter, Emil? You've been spacing out since we got here."

"I'm fine. Just tired, I guess."

Richter quirked a brow but said nothing as they entered the Imperial capital, just in time as the heavy gate shut behind them. Evening had not quite fallen yet, but the sun steadily dipped below the horizon. Emil might not protest, but everything they've gone through so far (the Temple of Earth, Aster's happy quaking, waking what he called a Centurion), must have had a toll on him, and zipping around Tethe'alla in record time on foot probably wasn't helping.

Richter wasn't just worried about that. He worried about the Desians, particularly Aurum. Desians had advanced technology, like detecting mana signatures, which Sybak had adapted to help sense monsters in an effort to protect traveling traders. If they could detect mana signatures, then it was likely that a group composing of human, half-elf and monster trails was an oddity that could not be ignored.

And then there was Emil himself. How could he form pacts with monsters, how did he know about the Centurions? It might be true that he had spoken with elves, especially if he had been to Tethe'alla before (how else could he have known about Sybak?). But he hadn't had a Rheaird, and it seemed he hadn't used the Otherworldly Gate before. Was there even something like to the gate in Sylvarant? All in all, Richter couldn't help but feel a little sketchiness in this whole situation.

His hypothesis that Emil might be a Desian-engineered weapon seemed plausible, especially since it was one of the Desians that helped put forward the Genome Project all those years ago. He had no proof other than what could be described as pure conjecture. No matter what Emil's origins were, he was dangerous, and could be used as a weapon by Tethe'alla or the Desians if they ever got a hold of him. With a veritable army of monsters at Emil's fingertips, they could easily do whatever they wanted.

"Let's have a rest," Aster said abruptly, sitting down on one of the big stone steps leading to Tethe'alla's middle quarter. Richter and Emil followed suit. It was weird not to have Titan and Ripplescale with them, even if Richter and Aster had only spent so many days with the monsters so far. They awaited outside the city, Titan in the brush, Ripplescale in the river that flowed into Meltokio that acted as the water supply.

"So, where are we going next?"

"I'd like to go on awakening the Centurions." Emil said. "Like you thought, Aster, they control the monsters as well as the weather. Actually it's more accurate to say that they help distribute the mana and keep it in balance."

"Because this world was not originally of mana, right?"

"Yeah. I think the Scriptures of Martel had a passage like that."

"I thought something like that, but I couldn't be sure. How do you know all this, Emil? Elves can't have been common in Sylvarant."

True enough, Richter thought as he watched his best friend reiterate his earlier thoughts almost word for word. Even with elves and their knowledge, they were a withdrawn bunch. Richter just couldn't see them educating humans about these things, and Sylvarant's educational system itself was severely lacking compared to Tethe'alla's. Fishier and fishier ...

"No, they weren't ... they don't have a village in Sylvarant, and I don't know if they could go back to Tethe'alla."

"Actually," Aster said, a grim line forming on his face, "Centurions control the monsters and balance the mana. Centurions are like summon spirits--what I mean is, do they answer to another spirit? The elemental ones like Luna and Efreet answer to Origin, the King of Spirits, but they're different from Centurions. They're just manifestations of mana, while Centurions actually control and balance it through monsters."

"You sure pick up lot pretty quickly." Emil remarked in surprise. "Though I shouldn't be surprised. Sybak's best and brightest."

"Don't change the subject!"

"Ah, sorry. Yeah, the Centurions do answer to another spirit. Ratatosk, the lord of all monsters. He was the summon spirit of the first Giant Kharlan Tree."

"The Giant Tree? Wasn't that a fairy tale?" Richter interjected, brow quirked.

Aster looked at the half-elf. "I don't think so. When I spoke with the elves, they gave me several of their books, which talk about the Giant Trees, two of them. These tie in with the Scriptures of the Church of Martel: the Great Motherland Derris-Kharlan rained mana fragments upon the world, giving it life.

"The elves say they transplanted their Giant Tree from Derris-Kharlan to provide for mana in a world not of mana. To keep the homeland safe, they cut off a bough from the original tree and planted it on Derris-Kharlan. Each Tree had a spirit to watch over the tree, with other abilities like Emil says.

"There's also an artifact that used to be in Heimdall, the sacred stone. It turns the body's mana to flames, and this was used against demons. One of the elvish histories as told by the storyteller in Latheon Gorge was one where the demonic realm, Niflheim, clashed with this one."

Richter's slightly tapered ears perked. Niflheim. The existence of the demonic realm was purely hypothetical, but Rilena and her team discovered a dimensional boundary between this world and what supposedly was Niflheim. The rifts were greatest in the ocean near the Otherworldly Gate, which they went to investigate, not only for Niflheim but also for its passage into Sylvarant.

But if the rifts were so great, there must be something holding it back, or else it would have consumed the world by now if the demonic realm existed. Aster continued,

"One of the books (and the elf who gave it to me) have a chapter describing how their Tree spirit protected the world from Niflheim by making a gate, or a door to hold it back. The sacred stone was used to make the seal, and the Tree spirit gave it to the elves to use as a key if the seal needed to be altered."

"That was Ratatosk?" Richter asked, mind still reeling about the demonic realm. Not of it itself, it was probably true that it existed. Rather ... when he first met Emil, he had said something disturbing.

"He," Emil jabbed a finger at Richter, "is the one trying to summon Niflheim into this world!"

Even now the memory was still fresh in Richter's mind. Why would Emil think that he was trying to bring Niflheim into this world? If the Otherworldly Gate was also a gate to Niflheim, then it was possible that Emil had glimpsed Niflheim on the way to Tethe'alla, or even encountered demons. When Emil woke, Richter was the first thing he'd seen, so it was possible that Emil thought Richter was doing something with Niflheim for that.

But something didn't add up. Emil said 'summoning' Niflheim. What did that mean?

"I guess it was Ratatosk," Aster's voice broke Richter's train of thought. "The elves have records of a being called Ratatosk who was the messenger of the Giant Kharlan Tree. I guess that fits, since Ratatosk could tell the elves the state of the world through the Tree."

"I think so, too." There was also the matter of the Centurions. Emil had also said back in Sybak that Richter had had a Centurion with him. Aqua, whose name meant 'water' in elvish, was most likely the Centurion of Water. If Centurions were near the summon spirits and their seals, then Aqua would be in Sylvarant, since there was no Seal of Water in Tethe'alla.

Richter had never been to Sylvarant before.

It was too much of a coincidence to pass off as delirium from passing the dimensional fissure between the two worlds.

"Now that we've got that figured out," Emil said, sounding tired indeed, "where are we going next? I'd like to go to the Temple of Darkness."

"Tenebrae, the Centurion of Darkness." Richter mumbled under his breath.

"I'd like nothing better, since it is closest," Aster replied, "but first we need to rest. Secondly, there is the matter of Shadow's temple being extremely dark. We'll need more light-elemental monsters to help us fight the dark monsters there, and we'll need a blue candle to light the way."

"Grimoires." Emil said immediately about the monsters.

"But they'll be expensive." Aster said, brow furrowed. "There aren't too many light elemental monsters from which to take the materials."

"Half a million Gald, Aster, half a million Gald."

"All right, but the blue candle isn't common, either. I hear the Elemental Research Lab here has one, but I doubt they'll want to give it up easily. However, I do have one back in Sybak."

A vein pulsed in Richter's temple, temporarily distracting him from his brooding.

"You knew we'd be going to the temples, and it never occurred to you to bring it along?"

"Haha, I guess not."

"I have absolutely no desire to cross the ocean again." Richter said vehemently. Ocean was the only way to go, since he was not supposed to have left Sybak without permission. He very much doubted that Aster got the okay from the Director before they were forced to leave.

One of the merchants dealing near their staircase turned their way, brow quirked curiously.

"Excuse me, but do you folks want to cross the Grand Tethe'alla Bridge?"

Aster looked up at the merchant, whose arms were full of carpets and rugs. He nodded.

"Yeah, why? Did they put a heavier toll on it or something?"

"Not exactly ... the bridge is closed."

"Closed? Why?"

Richter's blood ran cold when the merchant next said,

"A couple of half-elves they arrested escaped on the bridge. They closed it off so the Papal Knights have a better chance of finding them either on this continent or the other one."

"Wouldn't that hurt trade, cutting off the bridge?" Emil asked, head tilted to one side. "Why would they risk the economy for two people? What did they do?"

"They're half-elves." Richter said darkly. "Half-elves are stupid, savage, filthy creatures. Those found guilty of a crime are executed without exception."

"Tch." Emil grimaced. "Man, they need to get their priorities straightened out."

"Thanks for the info." Aster said, and the merchant waved as he shoved off to wherever he had been going before. The scientist stood, hands on his hips.

"Well, now. I guess we'll have to go to the Elemental Research Lab after all."

--

"You're saying you want the blue candle we have?" One of the half-elf researchers asked, brow quirked. Aster nodded, arms folded over his chest.

"We can't get to Sybak with the bridge out. I promise I'll send you mine if you'd lend us this one. I can't guarantee that we won't use it all up, of course."

"That's fine, since ours is a prototype and yours the finished product." The half-elf said, "but it's not up to me. It's very taxing in both energy and resources to make one."

"Psh, that's nothing compared to when you guys made Corrine."

"I guess that's true, Aster, but still ..."

"C'mon, pretty please? I'm on my field study right now and we need a blue candle to get to Shadow's temple."

"If you can't give us the candle," Emil interjected, "then could you help us make monster grimoires? Katz can make them, but you'd be able to that much faster."

"Monster grimoires?"

"Just like you revived summoning artes," Aster said slowly, "we found a way to make pacts with monsters based on what you guys discovered."

Emil's lips parted with surprise as he looked to Aster, who stood his ground unflinchingly. Why did Aster actively take the initiative to cover for Emil? He should have been glad about it, but there was a sinking feeling in his chest.

"I haven't heard anything like that ..." the half-elf said, cupping his chin in thought.

"The bridge is out." Richter supplied the obvious with a wave of his hand.

"Ah, true enough. Okay, I'll see what we can do. We'll make you the books and then we might be able to see about the blue candle. Now if you'll--"

The door to the lab opened, late afternoon sunlight pouring in, long shadows splaying across the walls. Emil gulped, emerald eyes fixed on the foremost shadow. There was no doubt about it. He knew that silhouette, the blurry shape he had seen in the crimson flames of that night in Palmacosta.

Lloyd's voice was loud and mixed with shock and anger. He pointed at Emil and Aster, snarling,

"You were the ones who were trying to trap Colette! What are you doing here?"

"We could ask the same of you." Richter retorted, stepping forward between Lloyd and Aster. "We are here on business of the Imperial Research Academy in Sybak. Who are you?"

"Oh, Goddess, officials. We're doomed."

"Shut it, Zelos. They might not be in cahoots with the Church." Lloyd said this in a low voice toward the back of the group, where the rest of them were undoubtedly outside.

"You're having trouble with the Church?" Richter asked, brow quirked. He wondered if it was related to the missing Sorcerer's Ring.

Slowly, all of Lloyd's group filed into the building, closing the door and harshly cutting off the sunlight so that they were immersed in mild darkness. Emil's eyes wandered: Lloyd, Genis, Raine, Colette, Presea, Zelos, and Sheena. Regal wasn't with them. He found this odd, but perhaps they hadn't met Regal yet. He looked back to Colette. Something was different about her. Then he met her eyes. He couldn't stop himself.

"Colette! You're all better now?"

Confused, the blonde Chosen tilted her head to one side.

"Uhm, yes, I think. Have we met?"

Yes, Emil wanted to scream, all of them had met before. But he couldn't, not without causing an unnecessary scene.

"I'm from Sylvarant."

"How did you get here?"

"I'm not sure myself, but it wasn't a Rheaird."

Lloyd rounded on him, "How do you know about Rheairds?"

But Sheena was looking at Emil. Then she looked to Aster. She put a hand on Lloyd's shoulder.

"Hang on, Lloyd. I know this person, the one in the lab coat. Aster, right?"

"Hey, Sheena. How are you and Corrine?"

"Dandy."

"Anyway," Richter said irritably, "are you having trouble with the Church?"

"Not the Church, per se." Raine said, her arms folded over her chest. "Just the Pope. He thinks Zelos is trying to usurp the throne."

"And therefore we were branded as traitors to Tethe'alla." Genis added. Normally he would want to lie low, but with those blond guys they already met before, and they being officials from Sybak ... Genis and his companions were at their mercy.

"Heh, the Pope. That's nothing new." Richter said with a wry smile. It quickly disappeared as he looked back at the newcomers. "Why are you here?"

Lloyd obviously didn't want to talk; his last encounter with Emil made him rather reluctant. However, talk he did, as he had taken it upon himself over the course of the journey the role of leader. Whether or not Emil really had been trying to get to Colette, Lloyd felt he owed it to Emil to be the one doing the talking.

"We have to get to the continent across the bridge."

"But the bridge is out," Sheena said, "and we came here to ask my friends to help us. That won't get in your way, right?"

"I shouldn't think so," Emil said, but when he began to continue, Richter's voice cut him off.

"Are you two the half-elves the Papal Knights are hunting for?"

Genis frowned, blue eyes narrowed, but Raine stood her ground, her arms still folded. Even now, she looked devious and menacing to Emil.

"Yes. Are you going to turn us in?"

"Pshh. No way." Aster's reply drew the gaze of every person in the room. "I mean, we're not exactly on good terms with authority, either. We're Sybak scientists who left the academy without permission. Our pet soiled one of the library's most valuable books."

"Oh, but I'm sure your doggie couldn't help it." Emil didn't know why Colette automatically thought it was a dog that did it, but ah, well.

"Actually," Emil continued where Aster had left off, "we need to get across the ocean, too." He refrained from mentioning the blue candle--undoubtedly they would be met with suspicion on wanting to go to Shadow's temple, even if they used Aster's field study as an excuse. It was just too weird.

"We could do something," The half-elf scientist of the Elemental Lab said, "like convert an elemental cargo to run on water's mana."

"I made a pact with Undine," Sheena supplied.

"Fantastic! But it's impossible to make more than one in such a short amount of time."

"Why don't we rest at my place?" Zelos suggested. "The Sybakers, too."

"What?" Lloyd asked, baffled. "Zelos, they tried to get Colette! How can we trust them?"

"I'm not your enemy." Emil said in a soft, almost meek voice. His eyes were starting to burn, tears forming. But he would not let them fall. "I am from Sylvarant. I just wanted Col ... the Chosen to be okay."

Lloyd and Emil locked eyes for a long time. Aster broke the ice,

"Besides, we'll have to share the ride to the other continent on the water EC, so it's both our interests to work together, at least for now. Truce? We could apologize to you properly for the misunderstanding that way."

Lloyd still looked reluctant, but Professor Raine addressed him.

"Let's take up their offer, Lloyd. If they try anything, we'll all be here to defend ourselves. Is that all right with you?"

Finally, Lloyd gave a heavy sigh, nodding. He walked up to Emil, offering a hand. Emil took the hand, and they shook with a firm grip.

"All right. I'll trust you for now, not just as a person, but as your friend. And friends don't betray each other."

Emil could not have been happier.

"Right. I'm Emil, by the way. It's nice to meet you, Lloyd."

"Likewise."

--

A/N: Got this done really quickly because you readers are so darling! By the way, I'm not sure if I was clear, but the Lab researchers want Aster's blue candle up front, so they have to back to Sybak first. There's also the matter of getting Exspheres, which I conveniently forgot. Ah, well.